Sock

ABSTRACT

A sock includes a sock body with portions formed from different materials to provide decreased friction in particular regions of the sock. A decreased friction portion (a) is provided to include both a heel portion and a portion directly above the heel portion of the sock, and/or a decreased friction portion (b) is provided on a front portion of the sock, corresponding to a location of a tongue of a boot or shoe when the sock is worn over a user&#39;s foot, inserted into such boot or shoe. Portions (a) and (b) can be formed from one or more of a low friction nylon or low friction polyester material having a lower coefficient of friction than a remainder of the sock body, which remainder of the sock body can be formed from wool, cotton, a cotton blend, etc., which material has greater friction, providing other desired properties (e.g., insulation, wicking).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Application No. 63/194,385, filed May 28, 2021, and entitled SOCK, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. The Field of the Invention

This invention relates to socks.

2. Background and Relevant Art

Boots, such as ski boots and the like can sometimes be difficult to put on. It would be an advantage in the art to provide a sock that could be used to make putting on such boots easier.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to socks that include specific portions thereof that include or are formed from a material exhibiting increased slickness (i.e., decreased friction) to aid in putting a socked foot into a ski boot or similar boot that may otherwise be difficult to put on.

The sock may otherwise be formed of typical fabric materials (e.g., cotton, wool, cotton-polyester blend, etc.). Specific portions of the sock are formed from a different material, that provides for decreased friction (i.e., allowing a socked foot to be more easily pulled or pushed into a ski boot or other boot). In particular, a region just above the heel of the sock may be formed from such low friction fabric or other material. Alternatively or in addition, an opposite surface on the front face of the sock (e.g., corresponding to the location of the tongue of a shoe or boot) is also formed from such a low friction fabric or other material. By way of example, this portion or portions of the sock may be formed from a low friction 100% polyester or nylon material. Other slick, low friction materials will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and may also be suitable for use. The portion or patch of material having low friction may exhibit a lower coefficient of friction than the other portions of the sock.

Both the rear low friction portion above the heel and the front low friction portion corresponding to the tongue location may have a width of e.g., from 1-3 inches (e.g., about 2 inches). Such portions may have a length that is greater than the width (e.g., so as to be elongate). For example, the length of such locations may be from 2-5 inches, or from 3-4 inches. In an embodiment, the low friction portion above the heel may have a length of about 4 inches, and the front low friction portion may have a length of about 3 inches.

In an embodiment, the sock is not simply formed entirely from such a low friction material, as such materials may not provide other desired characteristics (e.g., ability to wick away moisture, breathability, insulation, etc.). Thus, in an embodiment, only limited portions of the sock (e.g., the two portions noted herein) are formed from the low friction material. The remainder of the sock may be formed from more conventional sock materials, such as wool, a cotton blend, etc.

Attachment of the low friction portion(s) of the sock to the underlying or other sock portions may be by any suitable means, such as stitching, or use of an adhesive (e.g., hot iron adhesive), combinations thereof, or other attachment mechanisms that will be apparent to those of skill in the art. In an embodiment, such portions may simply be woven into the adjacent portions of the sock body.

Features from any of the disclosed embodiments may be used in combination with one another, without limitation. In addition, other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings contain figures of example embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages and features of the present invention. It will be appreciated that these drawings depict only example embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1-3 show an exemplary sock according to the present invention.

FIGS. 4-5 show the socked foot of a user being inserted into a ski boot, aided by the low friction portions of the sock, as described herein.

FIG. 6 shows the socked foot of the user, fully inserted into the ski boot of FIGS. 4-5 .

FIGS. 7-12 show additional isometric views of an exemplary sock according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to socks that include specific portions thereof that include or are formed from a material exhibiting increased slickness (i.e., decreased friction, lower coefficient of friction) to aid in putting a socked foot into a ski boot or similar boot that may otherwise be difficult to put on.

The sock 10 may otherwise be formed of typical fabric materials (e.g., cotton, wool, cotton-polyester blend, etc.). Specific portions of the sock are formed from a different material, that provides for decreased friction (i.e., allowing a socked foot to be more easily pulled or pushed into a ski boot or other boot). In particular, referring to the Figures (e.g., FIGS. 1-12 ) the region including the heel and just above the heel of the sock (labeled heel patch 12) may be formed from such a low friction fabric or other low friction material. For example, patch 12 may be formed from a fabric material having a lower coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction for the surrounding portions 14, of sock 10. By forming the heel and adjacent portions of the sock (e.g., heel and above the heel) from such a lower friction fabric material, a user will find it far easier to insert their socked foot into a boot (e.g., a ski boot), high top shoe, or the like.

Alternatively or in addition, an opposite surface on the front face of the sock (e.g., corresponding to the location of the tongue of a shoe or boot, which portion is labeled 16) is also formed from such a low friction fabric material. By way of example, portions 12, 16 of the sock 10 may be formed from a low friction polyester or low friction nylon material. In an embodiment, such patches 12, 16 may be 100% low friction polyester, 100% low friction nylon, or a blend of low friction polyester and low friction nylon. Based on the present disclosure, other slick, low friction materials that may be suitable for use will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and may also be used. The portion or patch of material having low friction may exhibit a lower coefficient of friction than the other portions of the sock. For example, cotton, or other cellulose containing fabrics may typically exhibit relatively higher coefficients of friction. In an embodiment, the other portions 14 of the sock 10 include greater cellulose (e.g., cotton, or other cellulose containing fabric materials) content than portions 12, 16 (which may contain lower, or even 0% cotton or other cellulose fabrics).

Both the rear low friction portion 12 above the heel and the front low friction portion 16 corresponding to the tongue location may have a width of e.g., from 1-3 inches (e.g., about 2 inches). Such portions may have a length that is greater than the width (e.g., so as to be elongate). For example, the length of such locations may be from 2-5 inches, or from 3-4 inches. In an embodiment, the low friction portion 12 above the heel may have a length of about 4 inches, and the front low friction portion 16 may have a length of about 3 inches.

In an embodiment, the sock 10 is not simply formed entirely from such a low friction material (e.g., nylon or polyester), as such materials may not provide other desired characteristics (e.g., ability to wick away moisture, breathability, insulation, etc.). Thus, in an embodiment, only limited portions of the sock (e.g., the two portions 12, 16 noted herein) are formed from the low friction fabric material. The remainder 14 of the sock 10 may be formed from more conventional sock materials (which exhibit greater coefficients of friction), such as one or more of wool, cotton, a cotton blend, bamboo fibers, rayon, lyocell, modal, viscose, spandex, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, such a sock 10 may be formed by providing an entire sock formed of the relatively higher friction materials 14, and then attaching patches 12 and 16, formed from a lower friction material, over the heel portions and tongue portions as shown, respectively. Such patches may simply be overlaid over a standard wool or other sock. Attachment to the underlying sock portions 14 may be by any suitable means, such as stitching, or use of an adhesive (e.g., hot iron adhesive), combinations thereof, or other attachment mechanisms that will be apparent to those of skill in the art. In an embodiment, such portions may simply be woven into the adjacent portions of the sock body.

The patches 12, 16 may thus be adhered or otherwise attached to the exterior surfaces of the sock, allowing the entire socked portion of the foot of a user to contact the higher friction material 14 (but such material 14 may have better moisture wicking, better insulative characteristics, etc. as compared to the material of patches 12, 16).

A method for manufacturing such a sock may include providing a sock body formed from a given sock material (e.g., wool, cotton blend, or the like as noted herein), selected to provide desired characteristics relative to moisture wicking, and insulation, said material having a coefficient of friction. Patch portions (e.g., corresponding to 12 and 16, as shown in FIG. 1 ) are then attached over an exterior of the sock body to provide decreased friction to particular exterior regions of the sock. As noted, the patch portions are formed from a different material (e.g., low coefficient of friction nylon or polyester, for example) as compared to the underlying sock body. The patch portions 12, 16 include a decreased friction patch portion 12 attached over a heel portion and extending to a location directly above the heel portion of the sock body and a decreased friction patch portion 16 attached over a front portion of the sock body, corresponding to a location of a tongue of a boot or shoe when the sock 10 is worn over a user's foot, inserted into such boot or shoe.

The patch portions can be stitched to the sock body, woven into the sock body, attached to the sock body with an adhesive, or both. In an embodiment the patch portions are attached to the sock body with a hot iron activated adhesive (e.g., a hot iron is used to attach the patch(es) to the sock. Such hot iron activated adhesives will be familiar to those of skill in the art, as they are often employed in other fields of fabric patching (e.g., when patching a hole).

In another embodiment, the present sock may be formed where the patch portions are integrated directly into the sock body, e.g., where such portions are not only prseent on the exposed exterior face of the sock, but are also on the inside of the sock, so as to contact the heel and tongue portions of the user's foot that is inserted into the sock. Nevertheless, in an embodiment, attachment may be as described above, where the patch portions 12, 16 are only exposed on the exterior surface of the sock, so that the full interior surface of the sock does not include such low friction materials (e.g., only other material 14, providing better moisture wicking, insulation, etc.).

In addition, unless otherwise indicated, numbers expressing quantities, constituents, distances, or other measurements used in the specification and claims are to be understood as optionally being modified by the term “about” or its synonyms. When the terms “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” or the like are used in conjunction with a stated amount, value, or condition, it may be taken to mean an amount, value or condition that deviates by less than 20%, less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 1%, less than 0.1%, or less than 0.01% of the stated amount, value, or condition.

As used herein, the term “between” includes any referenced endpoints. For example, “between 2 and 10” includes both 2 and 10.

The present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Thus, the described implementations are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

1. A sock comprising: a sock body including portions formed from different materials to provide decreased friction in particular regions of the sock; wherein a decreased friction portion (a) of the sock body is provided directly above a heel portion of the sock; and wherein a decreased friction portion (b) of the sock body is provided on a front portion of the sock, corresponding to a location of a tongue of a boot or shoe when the sock is worn over a user's foot, inserted into such boot or shoe.
 2. The sock as recited in claim 10, wherein portion (a) has a width of about 2 inches.
 3. The sock as recited in claim 10, wherein portion (b) has a width of about 2 inches.
 4. The sock as recited in claim 10, wherein portion (a) has a length of about 4 inches.
 5. The sock as recited in claim 10, wherein portion (b) has a length of about 3 inches.
 6. The sock as recited in claim 10, wherein a remainder of the sock body is formed from one or more of wool, cotton, a cotton blend, bamboo fibers, rayon, lyocell, modal, viscose, or spandex, such material exhibiting greater coefficient of friction than portions (a) and (b).
 7. The sock as recited in claim 10, wherein portions (a) and (b) are formed from one or more of a nylon or polyester material having a lower coefficient of friction than a remainder of the sock body, which remainder of the sock body is formed from one or more of wool, cotton, a cotton blend, bamboo fibers, rayon, lyocell, modal, viscose, or spandex, where such material exhibits greater coefficient of friction than portions (a) and (b).
 8. The sock as recited in claim 1, wherein the portions (a) and (b) are exposed only on an exterior face of the sock body, with no exposure or contact with a user's foot inserted into the sock during use.
 9. A sock comprising: a sock body including portions formed from different materials to provide decreased friction in particular regions of the sock; wherein a decreased friction portion (a) of the sock body is provided to include both a heel portion and a portion directly above the heel portion of the sock; and wherein a decreased friction portion (b) of the sock body is provided on a front portion of the sock, corresponding to a location of a tongue of a boot or shoe when the sock is worn over a user's foot, inserted into such boot or shoe; wherein portions (a) and (b) are formed from one or more of a nylon or polyester material having a lower coefficient of friction than a remainder of the sock body, which remainder of the sock body is formed from one or more of wool, cotton, a cotton blend, bamboo fibers, rayon, lyocell, modal, viscose, or spandex, where such material exhibits greater coefficient of friction than portions (a) and (b).
 10. A method of manufacturing a sock, the method comprising: providing a sock body formed from a given sock material, selected to provide desired characteristics relative to moisture wicking and insulation, said material having a coefficient of friction; attaching patch portions over an exterior of the sock body to provide decreased friction to particular exterior regions of the sock, wherein the patch portions are formed from a different material as compared to the underlying sock body; wherein the patch portions include a decreased friction patch portion (a) attached over a heel portion and extending to a location directly above the heel portion of the sock body; and wherein the patch portions also include a decreased friction patch portion (b) attached over a front portion of the sock body, corresponding to a location of a tongue of a boot or shoe when the sock is worn over a user's foot, inserted into such boot or shoe.
 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the patch portions are stitched to the sock body.
 12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the patch portions are attached to the sock body with an adhesive.
 13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the patch portions are attached to the sock body with a hot iron activated adhesive.
 14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the patch portions are woven into the sock body.
 15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the patch portions are exposed only on the exterior face of the sock body, with no exposure or contact with a user's foot inserted into the sock. 